ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

This music has an enveloping, dreamy quality where the textures are very soothing and uplifting, and yet it is somehow quixotic too. 'Heal your heart' and 'Free yourself' feature classically trained singer Susanna, and are vaguely reminiscent of Madonna in her more holy incarnation, whilst the magnificent, anthemic, trance-like 'Return to your soul' recalls Enigma, but with a hint of a Spanish folk melody combined with a baroque adagio in the mix!

'Goldenheart' could almost be a duet sung by Dolly Parton and and Kenny Rogers, and 'Angel of the south' is a lilting, languid, innocent instrumental that conjures up a warm beach somewhere, as the sun goes down. The whole effect is very relaxing and sunny, almost fragrant, and the melodies are entirely memorable and attractive.

Lyrically, Asher has penned some very accessible songs here, but invariably with cosmic themes, and one feels given to... even bestowed upon, somehow. It IS music for love... for love of life, higher love, love of fun and love of beauty. The producer here is James Asher, himself a formidable new-age instrumental and percussion artist, and an internationally successful library composer. First released a decade ago, Music for Love is re-released here with new artwork, and retains a timeless appeal.

Originally recorded in 1999, Asher Quinn's Music For Love is a remarkable New Age album that succeeds in being both soothing and compelling. Despite being recorded over a decade ago, the album sounds fresh and polished, likely due in large part to the involvement of producer James Asher. Asher is a substantial name in the New Age music industry as both a multi-instrumentalist and producer. Here he lends his musical talents to a variety of percussion instruments in conjunction to producing the album with Quinn.

At only six tracks long, Music For Love still contains a lot of content considering the shortest song on the album is five and a half minutes, and the rest of them averaging around eight to nine. Though the longer song lengths are typical of the New Age genre, the big difference with Quinn's work is that none of the songs sound drawn out to excessive duration. Quinn's arrangements are engaging to the listener, but they don't sacrifice the relaxing and peaceful quality that his music seeks to exude. The percussion for example is kept soft and avoids the heavier sounds of a drum kit in exchange for a variety of softer drums, shakers, triangles etc. The gentle sounds keep the music subdued, but the variety combined with the ethereal keyboards and lead guitar work give layers of texture to listen to for the extended runtime of the songs.

The first track, "Heal Your Heart," captures many of those qualities right away. Vocalist Susanna sings highly and lightly, "Heal your heart/let the arms of creation embrace you..." in a manner akin to Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins. Susanna's voice alone is incredibly engaging, but it blends especially well with the backing keyboards that Quinn saturates the track in, sounding like a softly singing choir. The element that connects it all together is the guitar work from Phil Thornton, who seems to be drawing on a sound similar to that of Mike Oldfield with his lead playing. When Thornton plays, it offers enough variation to the sound to keep the track from sounding like its revisiting old ground. In similar fashion, this playing also keeps the nine-minute long "Goldenheart" sounding fantastic. Quinn's vocals appear here as well while Susanna sings harmony. Quinn is not the same caliber vocalist that Susanna is, but he sounds pleasant, serene, and pure. The harmonies between the two vocalists are the most entertaining parts of the song as Susanna's voice sails above Quinn's while he holds down a more grounded melody to her lofty singing.

The third track, "Free Yourself," is again sung blissfully by Susanna, but the percussion from Asher is more noticeable in both the left and right audio channels of the mix. You can hear the soft, driving tempo more prevalently because the drums are separated enough to hear them each distinctly. This, the shortest track, serves as a good transition to the longest song, "Life Is Only For Love." By now, the formula for the songs is apparent, but it doesn't wear thin. The themes from "Goldenheart" are revisited but Quinn sings elegantly of the beauty of love and finding peace in a kindred soul. What he may lack in vocal range, he makes up for in emotion. Susanna shares lead vocal duties in different parts of the song, resulting in an eleven-minute epic between the two vocalists.

"Angel of the South" follows next and is primarily an instrumental aside from some background vocals from Susanna. Largely the song's voice is the picking of Thornton, which takes on a greater and more central role. Some of the parts sound as if they were Spanish guitar inspired and the resulting licks are beautiful. Finally, "Return To Your Soul" closes things out with a wonderfully arranged piece that features layers of keyboards beneath Quinn's acoustic strumming and vocals that come later into the track. The sound is actually slightly darker than the rest of the album with the keyboard tones being somber, but no less calming. It's not until the song's later third, where Susanna's vocals kick in that the song sounds more uplifting and ends on the pleasant note that the album first started on.

As previously stated, Music For Love is both soothing and compelling. Unlike other New Age recordings, Asher Quinn has created something here that is capable of transcending genre and offers something to enjoy for music fans in general. He, James Asher, Susanna, and Phil Thornton may have recorded this in 1999, but it still holds up today as a timeless example of quality musicianship and songwriting.

I really love your music since a lot of years, and I'm a musician percussionist and a painter. I've played alone lots of nights and sweet mornings with your "Music for Love". ~ Jordi, Spain (2010)

Hi Asher, I got a copy of "Music for Love" a year ago, and loved it. Recently, I got an incredibly strong pull to come back home from Perth to London for a bit... just on my own. On the plane from Bangkok to London I relaxed and slept. I watched a Gangaji video on my i-pod and listened to 'Return to your soul'. Something started to happen to me, an incredible sweet spring of pure, radiant, heart joy energy started to flow out of my chest in waves. My trip around beautiful England was the best time in my whole life. Driving round in my hire-car I would begin every trip listening to 'Return to your soul'. I called it my theme song. Thank you for your beautiful beautiful music, Asher. ~ Neil Riddell, Australia (2010)

After trying for ages I have finally added "Music for Love" to my Asha collection. It was well worth waiting for... the distribution in Canada is poor. Your magnificent music deserves more exposure. "Music for Love" would make a great Valentine's Day gift. Every track is beautiful, and I find myself listening to the album over and over again. ~ Lynne Wener, Canada (2000)

I have to say "Music for Love" is beyond greatness! I have just bought the album, and I played it and I played it... I especially like 'Goldenheart'; where do you get this inspiration from? Amazing! The voice of Susanna was beautiful. ~ Brendan Ryan, N. Ireland (2000)

"Music for Love" is absolutely wonderful. I can't stop playing it. I love the sound of your voice as well as the music and words. An aside... recently I was introduced to some new family in-laws. Their 3-year-old son is named... Asha! Couldn't get over it! ~ Janet Woodhead, UK (1999)

I am relaxing at home listening to one of my favourite tracks 'Life is only for love'. Your music is simply the best, music to feed the soul. ~ Brendan Ryan, Antrim, UK

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